Run to support dementia research

Alzheimer’s Research UK and Parkrun UK have joined forces to launch an inspiring new challenge, ‘Running Down Dementia’.

The campaign is asking participants to run 100km over the summer to raise money for the alzheimer’s charity.

All runners have to do is sign up at runningdowndementia.org, pledge to raise £100, connect their tracking app such as Strava or MapMyFitness and get running.

Runners will be able to compare their distances with others interactively through the website for extra motivation and keep track of leaderboards.

They can also join forces and compete in teams, and parkrun groups can compete for the top spot with the aim of achieving 100km by the end of September 2016.

Runners can clock up the miles by taking part in a free 5km parkrun every week, and can run more than 100km if they wish, raising £1 per kilometre.

Susie Hewer Alzheimer’s Research UK champion, lost her mum Peggy in 2005 to vascular dementia and since then has run over 70 marathons and set Guinness World Records for knitting and crocheting while running to raise vital funds for dementia research.

She said: “Running Down Dementia is a great motivator to keep people healthy and also raise money for a cause that is very close to my heart. Dementia research is so important and I’d urge everyone to sign up to this fun challenge.”

Further information is available online at www.runningdowndementia.org